- Researchers from Amsterdam conducted a study to see whether running therapy could be as helpful as antidepressants for treating depression and anxiety symptoms.
- The researchers found that both groups experienced similar improvements in their depression symptoms.
- However, the running group also saw improvements in physical health, while the antidepressant participants experienced slightly worse physical health.
Many people experience depression, and sometimes it is situational or mild, which may not require treatment. However, other people experience depression to a more severe degree.
In the case of people with clinical depression, treatments that include psychological therapy and/or specific medications may be appropriate.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 8.3% of adults in the United States experience a major depressive episode every year. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTrusted Source (CDC) report that 13.2% of adults take an antidepressant.
Since depression is so prevalent, scientists are interested in improving treatments. Researchers in Amsterdam wondered whether running could be as beneficial as taking an antidepressant.
To do this, the researchers recruited more than 100 people to participate in a study that compared the effects of running and antidepressants on improving depression and anxiety symptoms. Each group followed 16-week regimens of either participating in running therapy or taking an antidepressant.
After 16 weeks, the researchers found that both groups had similar improvements in their symptoms.
These findings were presented at the ECNP Congress in Barcelona, Spain, and appear in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Depression and anxiety are both common mental health issues in the U.S. In addition to the impact these issues have on someone’s mental well-being, they can affect physical health.
Some of the physical health problems tied to depression include:
- chronic joint pain
- sleep disturbance
- gastrointestinal problems
- psychomotor activity changes.
Additionally, the American Heart AssociationTrusted Source reports that over time, chronic depression can lead to heart disease because of higher levels of cortisol.
The impacts on both mental and physical health make treating ongoing depression of utmost importance. Many doctors prescribe medications from antidepressant classes such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants.
Treating depression with medications is not the only option, though. Increasing physical activity can be beneficial by increasing endorphins, a chemical the body produces that boosts the mood.
With both the pharmacological treatment of depression and the fact that physical activity boosts endorphins in mind, the researchers in the current study wonder whether running therapy could be as beneficial as using an antidepressant.
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